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Abstractα-thalassemia major (α-TM) often causes Hb Bart’s (c4) hydrops fetalis and severe obstetric complications in the mother. Step-wise screening for couples at risk of having offspring(s) affected by α-TM is the efficient prevention method but some rare genotypes of thalassemia cannot be detected. A 32-year-old male with low HbA2 (2.4%) and mild anemia was performed real-time PCR-based multicolor melting curve analysis (MMCA) because his wife was –SEA deletion carrier. The result of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) suggested the existence of –SEA deletion in the proband. A novel deletion of the α-globin gene cluster was found using self-designed MLPA probes combined with longer PCR, which was further accurately described to be 16.8Kb (hg38, Chr16:1,65,236–1,82,113) deletion by the third-generation sequencing. A fragment ranging from 1,53,226 to 1,54,538(GRch38/hg38) was identified which suggested the existence of the homologous recombination event. The third-generation sequencing is accurate and efficient in obtaining accurate information for complex structural variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study presents the development of several deep-learning models to evaluate different types of compound toxicity. • The models were tailored to specific types of toxicity, each with a unique GCN binary classification. • Evaluation metrics indicate that developed models were reliable in predicting compounds toxicity. • The models were integrated into a virtual screening pipeline to facilitate drug discovery. Ensuring the safety and efficacy of chemical compounds is crucial in small-molecule drug development. In the later stages of drug development, toxic compounds pose a significant challenge, losing valuable resources and time. Early and accurate prediction of compound toxicity using deep learning models offers a promising solution to mitigate these risks during drug discovery. In this study, we present the development of several deep-learning models aimed at evaluating different types of compound toxicity, including acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, hERG_cardiotoxicity (the human ether-a-go-go related gene caused cardiotoxicity), hepatotoxicity, and mutagenicity. To address the inherent variations in data size, label type, and distribution across different types of toxicity, we employed diverse training strategies. Our first approach involved utilizing a graph convolutional network (GCN) regression model to predict acute toxicity, which achieved notable performance with Pearson R 0.76, 0.74, and 0.65 for intraperitoneal, intravenous, and oral administration routes, respectively. Furthermore, we trained multiple GCN binary classification models, each tailored to a specific type of toxicity. These models exhibited high area under the curve (AUC) scores, with an impressive AUC of 0.69, 0.77, 0.88, and 0.79 for predicting carcinogenicity, hERG_cardiotoxicity, mutagenicity, and hepatotoxicity, respectively. Additionally, we have used the approved drug dataset to determine the appropriate threshold value for the prediction score in model usage. We integrated these models into a virtual screening pipeline to assess their effectiveness in identifying potential low-toxicity drug candidates. Our findings indicate that this deep learning approach has the potential to significantly reduce the cost and risk associated with drug development by expediting the selection of compounds with low toxicity profiles. Therefore, the models developed in this study hold promise as critical tools for early drug candidate screening and selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A colorimetric biosensor was elaboratively designed for fast, sensitive and multiplex bacterial detection on a single microfluidic chip using immune magnetic nanobeads for specific bacterial separation, immune gold@platinum palladium nanoparticles for specific bacterial labeling, a finger-actuated mixer for efficient immunoreaction and two coaxial rotatable magnetic fields for magnetic nanobead capture (outer one) and magnet-actuated valve control (inner one). First, preloaded bacteria, nanobeads and nanozymes were mixed through a finger actuator to form nanobead-bacteria-nanozyme conjugates, which were captured by the outer magnetic field. After the inner magnetic field was rotated to successively wash the conjugates and push the H2O2-TMB substrate for resuspending these conjugates, colorless TMB was catalyzed into blue TMBox products, followed by color analysis using ImageJ software for bacterial determination. This simple biosensor enabled multiplex Salmonella detection as low as 9 CFU per sample in 45 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the potential protective impact of miR-10a-modified HUMSCs-derived exosomes on both premature ovarian failure and the functionality of ovarian granulosa cells in a POF model. Methods: KGN cells were co-cultured with cisplatin-diaminedichloroplatinum (II) (10 μM) for 24 h to establish an in vitro POF model. The cells were distributed into three distinct groups: the control group, the POF group, and the POF + HUCMSC group. The plasmid sh-NC, sh-miR-10 a and miR-10 a mimic were transfected into KGN cells. After co-cultured with HUCMSC-EVs for 48 h, they were divided into HUCMSC group, sh-miR-10 a-HUMSCs-exosomes group and miR-10 a-HUMSCs-exosomes group. Flow cytometry was adopted to assess the impact of HUMSCs surface immune antigens and miR-10a-HUCMSCs-exosomes on KGN cell apoptosis. Additionally, the evaluation of cell proliferation was carried out through CCK-8 and EDU assays. Western blot analysis was utilized to detect the Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins levels. Furthermore, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, MDA, SOD, and CAT were quantified using ELISA. Results: Compared with the Control group, the POF group inhibited the growth of ovarian granulosa cells (P< 0.01), reduced the number of EDU cells (P< 0.01), and increased the protein expression of Caspase-3 (P< 0.05) and Bax (P< 0.01). HUMSCs treatment significantly down-regulated the expression of IL-6, TNF-α and MDA, while up-regulating the expression of IL-10, SOD and CAT (P< 0.01); the overexpression of miR-10a promoted cell growth, besides, the introduction of miR-10a-HUMSCs-derived exosomes led to an elevation in the proliferation rate of OGCs affected by POF and concurrently suppressed the apoptosis rate. Conclusion: HUMSCs-derived exosomes modified by miR-10a have protective effects on premature ovarian failure and ovarian granulosa cell function in POF model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. Rauwolfia polysaccharide (Rau) has therapeutic effects on colitis in mice, but its mechanism of action needs to be further clarified. In the study, we explored the effect of Rau on the UC cell model induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: We constructed a UC cell model by stimulating HT-29 cells with LPS. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was used to induce mice to construct an animal model of UC. Subsequently, we performed Rau administration on the UC cell model. Then, the therapeutic effect of Rau on UC cell model and was validated through methods such as Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), Muse, Quantitative real‑time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The results showed that Rau can promote the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of the HT-29 cells-induced by LPS. Moreover, we observed that Rau can inhibit the expression of NOS2/JAK2/STAT3 in LPS-induced HT-29 cells. To further explore the role of NOS2 in UC progression, we used siRNA technology to knock down NOS2 and search for its mechanism in UC. The results illustrated that NOS2 knockdown can promote proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of LPS-induced HT-29 cells by JAK2/STAT3 pathway. In addition, in vitro and in vivo experiments, we observed that the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway can inhibit the effect of Rau on DSS-induced UC model. Conclusion: In short, Rauwolfia polysaccharide can inhibit the progress of ulcerative colitis through NOS2-mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway. This study provides a theoretical clue for the treatment of UC by Rau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel multi‐conductor electromagnetic coupling model for the sensitive‐wire subject to driven wire in a high‐precision machining workbench is proposed in this paper. The general coupling model for an N‐wire system is derived and is used to evaluate the wire coupling effect. Furthermore, 4‐wire and 3‐wire models are demonstrated to verify the accuracy through full‐wave electromagnetic simulation below 10 MHz. The results show that the error between the proposed method and the full‐wave electromagnetic simulation is less than 10%, demonstrating the high efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. When the parameters of the driven power wire and the most sensitive wire are fixed and the parameters of neighboring wires are swept, the maximum fluctuation of the induced current on the most sensitive wire is 6.1 dB. The efficient calculation method proposed in this work helps reduce the risk of electromagnetic interference in complex electronic systems and improves the design efficiency of wires. It is promising to become a high‐performance method with high efficiency and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel route was adopted to fabricate a superhydrophobic surface on a copper substrate. A copper coating was electrodeposited from a choline chloride-based system and then heat treated at 150 °C in an air atmosphere. The treated sample showed rough surfaces and uneven grain sizes and exhibited a water contact angle (WCA) of 156.9°, showing a superhydrophobic performance. Compared with the copper alone, the superhydrophobic sample had a lower corrosion current and higher polarization resistance, indicating a better anti-corrosion behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deinococcus radiodurans (DR) exhibits strong resistance to ionizing radiation. In this study, by constructing a radiation-resistant genetically engineered strain overexpressing the Cs gene, the tolerance of the bacterium to aluminum ions was enhanced, thereby achieving the goal of microbial sustainable remediation of uranium-contaminated environments. Methods: 1. Extraction of the recombinant plasmid pRADK-Cs, transformation into DR, and verification. 2. Investigation of factors such as time and initial uranium concentration on the efficiency of uranium accumulation by the recombinant strain, characterized by changes in functional groups and surface morphology before and after accumulation using techniques such as scanning electron microscope. Conclusions: The recombinant strain Deino-Cs can reduce the inhibitory effect of aluminum ions on uranium accumulation capability, and it exhibits a higher uranium accumulation rate compared to the wild-type strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the value of the real‐time PCR–based multicolor melting curve analysis (MMCA) with an automatic analysis system used in a mass thalassemia screening and prenatal diagnosis program. Methods: A total of 18,912 peripheral blood samples from 9456 couples and 1150 prenatal samples were detected by MMCA assay. All prenatal samples were also tested by a conventional method. Samples with unknown melting peaks, unusual peak height ratios between a wild allele and a mutant allele, or a discordant phenotype‐genotype match were further studied by using multiplex ligation–dependent probe amplification (MLPA) or Sanger sequencing. All MMCA results were automatically analyzed and manually checked. The consistency between MMCA assay and conventional methods among prenatal samples was investigated. Results: Except for initiation codon (T > G) (HBB:c.2T > G), all genotypes of thalassemia inside the scope of conventional methods were detected by MMCA assay. Additionally, 27 carriers with 10 rare HBB variants, 13 with α fusion gene, 1 with a rare deletion in α globin gene, and 1 with rare HBA variant were detected by using MMCA assay. Conclusion: MMCA can be an alternative approach used in routine thalassemia carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis for its high throughput, sufficient stability, low cost, and easy operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article comprehensively explores the cross-scale effects of gravity on macroscopic flow formation and weld bead formation in variable polarity plasma arc welding. Gravity-induced changes in welding direction were achieved through welding at different spatial positions. The properties of the weld bead were investigated at various spatial locations. Additionally, an elemental tracing technique was employed to study the internal flow behavior of molten metal. In the flat welding position, there is an observable trend of increasing grain size in the welded bead, accompanied by a significant expansion of the coarse grain zone. Consequently, the properties of the weld bead in the flat position are inferior to those achieved in the vertical welding position. This phenomenon can be attributed to the accumulation of molten metal at the exit side of the keyhole, resulting in temperature accumulation. Research indicates that the internal flow within the weld pool plays a critical role in causing this phenomenon. The study's findings reveal the presence of two distinct vortex flow patterns within the weld pool: one aligned with the welding direction and the other directed towards the interior of the weld pool. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial expansion of the flow channel area in the flat welding position, which significantly amplifies the impact of internal flow. This enhanced flow intensity inevitably leads to the increased buildup of molten metal at the keyhole exit side. These studies lay the groundwork for achieving high-quality and controllable spatial-position welding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting a suitable approximation strategy can both enhance the robustness and improve the efficiency of the numerical algorithms. In this paper, we suggest combining two approximation criteria, the absolute one and the relative one, to the asymmetric forward-backward-adjoint splitting (AFBA) algorithm for a class of convex-concave saddle point problems, resulting in two inexact AFBA variants. These two approximation criteria are low-cost, since verifying them just involves the subgradient of a certain function. For both the absolute error AFBA and the relative error AFBA, we establish the global convergence and the O(1/N) convergence rate measured by the gap function in the ergodic sense, where N is the number of iterations. For the absolute error AFBA, we show that it possesses an O(1/N2) (linear convergence) rate of convergence, under the assumption that a part of (both) the underlying functions are strongly convex. We report some numerical results which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and quality of welding in variable polarity plasma arc welding are determined by the directional fluid flow within the molten pool. In this study, the particle tracking method was employed to obtain flow traces and velocity of the molten metal on the walls of the keyhole using a high-speed camera system. Additionally, a confocal laser scanning microscope was utilized to capture the 3D morphology of the keyhole, while the flow channels were obtained through sectioning. By correlating the flow traces and velocity with the 3D keyhole morphology, the experimental results revealed the presence of saddle points on both the front and rear walls of the keyhole. The front saddle point represents the region where the flow velocity in the depth direction is minimum, causing the keyhole front side to converge upward and downward. The depth and volume of fluid flow to the keyhole sidewall are determined by this front saddle point. On the other hand, the rear saddle point is located at the center of the molten pool, marking the entry and exit sides of the keyhole rear wall where the melting metal eventually reaches. The location of the post-settlement point will affect the weld state. During the welding process, the double saddle points of the molten pool remain dynamically stable, and their position is influenced by shear force, gravity, arc pressure, keyhole morphology, and flow channels. These findings contribute to controlling the process characteristics necessary for stable welding of the keyhole in the molten pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne pathogen contamination is a main source of food safety issues. Rapid screening of pathogens in foods is imperative for preventing the outbreaks of foodborne diseases, which have posed serious threats to human health and economic development. This review aimed at recent progress of the microfluidic separators and biosensors for rapid and sensitive detection of foodborne pathogens. The key technologies for developing lab-on-chip separators and biosensors were illustrated. In particular, we systematically discussed the strategy of lab-on-chip magnetic separation for continuous-flow isolation of pathogenic bacteria. Challenges and future perspectives for practical applications of lab-on-chip technologies in foods were also discussed. Lab-on-chip devices are a promising tool to integrate separation, enrichment and detection in one single chip to facilitate "sample-in-answer-out" testing of pathogens in agri-food. [Display omitted] • Recent advances on microfluidic separators for isolation and enrichment of foodborne pathogens are summarized. • The strategy of microfluidic magnetic separation in continuous-flow isolation of pathogens are systematically discussed. • Recent progress of microfluidic electrochemical and optical biosensors for rapid detection of pathogens are summarized. • Challenges and future perspectives of practical application of lab-on-chip technology in agri-food are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bypass hybrid variable polarity plasma arc (VPPA) has the specific ability that could control the current through the wire and base metal independently. It offers a unique advantage for additive manufacturing for adjusting the heat input of wire and base metal freely. The deposition process of molten metal and the forming mechanism of the deposition layer are significantly different with the traditional wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Therefore, this paper investigates the effects of main current and bypass current on the morphology characteristics of the deposition layer, explores the surface and internal material flow of the molten metal, and constructs a multi-layer morphological model of the deposition layer under this process. The deposition process was observed by a high-speed camera, and the molten metal flow was tracked by slag and copper. It is found that the bypass hybrid VPPA can adjust the morphology of the deposition layer by changing the combination of the main and bypass current. The plasma arc establishes the deposition channel of the molten metal, and the surface flow in the deposition channel tends to stagnate further away from the arc and the mass transfer is in the form of internal filling. The depositing metal is not affected by the hybrid arc in solidification, and the surface tension plays a dominant role in forming. The flow pattern leads to an arch shape cross section of the deposition layer. The work lays a foundation for finely controlling and predicting the morphology of the deposition layer in WAAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to analyse cancer survival and its spatial distribution in Shandong Province. A total of 609,861 cancer cases from 2014 to 2016 were included in the analysis. Survival analysis was performed using strs in Stata. Spatial analysis was performed with GeoDa to determine measures of global and local spatial autocorrelation. Hotspot analysis was used to identify spatial clusters of high values (hotspots) and low values (cold spots) through ArcGIS. The 5-year relative survival rates were 37.85% for all cancers combined, 29.29% for males and 48.88% for females. After age standardisation, the survival rates were 34.47% for all cancers, 28.43% for males and 41.56% for females. Cancers with higher survival rates included thyroid (78.80%), breast (69.52%), uterus (64.51%) and bladder (62.54%) cancers. However, cancers with lower survival rates included pancreatic (11.34%), liver (13.19%), lung (18.39%), bone (19.71%), gallbladder (19.78%), oesophagus (24.52%), and stomach (28.85%) cancers and leukaemia (26.30%). Cancer survival rates in urban areas (37.53%) were higher than those in rural areas (32.83%). From the geographic distribution of cancer survival, we observed that the survival rate displayed a downward trend from east to west and from north to south. The hotspot analysis revealed that some counties of Qingdao, Jinan, Zibo, Dongying and Yantai cities were hotspots, whereas almost all counties of Linyi city and some counties of Weifang, Heze, Rizhao, and Dezhou cities were cold spots. In conclusion, the cancer survival rate in Shandong is still lower than that in China overall. The early diagnosis and treatment of lung and digestive tract cancers need to be further strengthened. Nevertheless, our results reflect a critical first step in obtaining and reporting accurate and reliable estimates of survival in Shandong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), as a nitric oxide donor, is widely used in postharvest fruit physiology and metabolism. Our previous study has indicated that SNP plays a crucial role in postharvest browning control of rambutan, but the molecular mechanism underlying this process is still unclear. In this research, we investigated the gene expression and function of postharvest rambutan in response to SNP during browning. We found 7336 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which 2206 were upregulated and 5130 were downregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment as well as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed, and the real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR) data were consistent with transcriptome data. The DEGs relevant to rambutan pericarp browning were mainly involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, phenolic oxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and energy supply. It was shown that SNP regulated the synthesis and degradation of anthocyanins, accumulation of phenols, level of ROS and energy metabolism to suppress the postharvest browning of rambutan. Also, one WRKY transcription factor involved in ROS metabolism was observed to be differentially regulated. These findings add to our insights into the molecular mechanisms of the SNP‐induced browning delays of rambutan, which has implications for subsequent studies on molecular mechanisms of fruit browning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inducing homeostasis disruption in cancer cells will cause severe cytotoxicity and apoptosis for cancer therapy. However, comprehensive intracellular active homeostatic mechanisms make it still a daunting challenge. Reported herein is a biomimetic nano-regulator for mutually reinforcing Ca2+/NO/energy metabolism triple homeostasis disruption via cascade reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the progress of regional integration in China and the growth of passenger travel demand, a single travel mode has been unable to meet passengers' cross-regional, multimodal, and personalized travel needs. Air-rail integration service (ARIS) is gradually catching on with travellers. Compared with developed countries, ARIS remains in its infancy in China, with a low penetration rate. Against this backdrop, this study presents an SP survey of ARIS passengers at Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport as an example and analyses the factors affecting their transfer process using multiple ordinal logistic regression. The satisfaction analysis results help to construct a simulation model of ARIS of Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport by using AnyLogic to verify the optimization effect. The research results show a significant impact on the ARIS transfer process by gender, education, occupation, travel mode, travel cost, location of the shuttle bus, arrival frequency of shuttle bus, manual baggage check-in service, self-service check-in, and the performance of security check equipment. The adoption of optimization measures will reduce ARIS shuttle bus, baggage check-in, and security check-in times by 68%, 50%, and 45%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-pulse modulation recognition of radar signals plays an important role in the field of electronic warfare. In this paper, a multi-feature random matching fusion (MFRMF) network is proposed to deal with the recognition technology of radar signals' intra-pulse modulation at a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). First, we extract 12 traditional parameter features of radar signals and screen out 7 more important features. Next, we analyze and extract the Time–frequency images. Finally, the MFRMF network with the idea of residual learning, self-attention mechanism, and random matching algorithm is adopted to perform feature learning and identify the intra-pulse modulation type of radar signals. Simulation results demonstrate that MFRMF can effectively reduce the interference of noise on signal classification and improve recognition accuracy at a low SNR. It can classify 10 kinds of radar signals, and the overall recognition accuracy achieves 90.6% and 95.4% when the SNR is − 8 dB and − 6 dB, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as a brand-new classification of propitious photocatalysts, which have caused serious concern due to its possible utilization in the changeover of resources into "solar fuels", is challenged by low efficiency of charge separation. Herein, a metal-free 2D-2D BP/TpPa-1-COF p-n hetero-junction was compounded by an effortless solvothermal approach. The construction of BP/TpPa-1-COF p-n hetero-junction could effectively solve the problem of high recombination rate of photoelectron-hole pairs. Optimal sample (15% BP/TpPa-1-COF) exhibited the highest hydrogen production (456.7 μmol·h−1·g−1) among all heterostructures with non-noble loading, which has been raised 13 times compared with that of pristine TpPa-1-COF and 24 times of 2D BP flakes, respectively. This work not only improved the catalytic efficiency by accelerating the detachment and transport of charge carriers among different interfaces, but also indicated an effective method for constructing highly-efficiency metal-free and cocatalysts-free COF-based photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • We have prepared the BP/TpPa-1-COF photocatalysts by hydrothermal method. • Hydrogen production were chosen to explore the photocatalytic performance. • The highest rate of hydrogen production was 456.7 μmol·h−1·g−1 within 5 h by 15% BP/TpPa-1-COF sample. • The enhanced activity due to the 2D-2D connection and the p-n junction photocatalytic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an old infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent and control TB. However, there is relatively little literature that systematically analyzes the progress of new TB vaccine research from a bibliometric perspective. This study was conducted to examine the development of TB vaccines over the past 20 years and to identify research priorities and directions for the future. Methods: The Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) of the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database was selected to search the literature related to TB vaccines. The countries, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords of each publication were analyzed and visualized using the VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix software. Furthermore, GraphPad Prism and Microsoft Excel 365 were also used for statistical analysis. Results: As of 20 October 2022, 7960 publications related to TB vaccines were identified with 288,478 citations. The United States of America (USA) accounted for the largest share (2658, 33.40%), followed by the United Kingdom (UK, 1301, 16.34%), and China (685, 8.6%). Regarding affiliations, the University of London had the most publications (427) and shared the highest H-index (76) with the Statens Serum Institut of Denmark. In terms of the number of articles for the journals and authors, the journal Vaccine ranked first with 629 articles. Professor Peter Anderssen has published the highest number of papers (160). The burst keywords and thematic maps analysis showed that future trends in TB vaccine development would focus on exploring the interaction mechanisms between M. tuberculosis and the host. Conclusion: The number of publications on TB vaccines has grown over the past two decades. Developed countries play a significant role in TB vaccine research, and developing countries are fast catching up. We believe that future research will be aimed at understanding the fine molecular mechanisms of host–pathogen interaction, leading to the development of better TB vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial unstable stage associated with keyhole plasma arc welding affects the stability and quality heavily, especially in the non-vertical welding position, which is difficult to control and restricts the process development and application. This work clarifies the temperature distribution and flow behavior of the process from the digging keyhole stage to the keyhole stable movement stage via an infrared thermography system and high-speed camera system. The experimental results showed that the molten metal on the rear side of the keyhole gradually accumulates and solidifies on the exit side and rear wall of the keyhole. When enough molten metal accumulates on the keyhole rear sidewall, it closes under the action of surface tension. The angle (86°–90°) of the keyhole rear sidewall formation can be used to determine whether the keyhole rear side is closed and reached the keyhole stable movement stage. Simultaneously, the influence of the shifting direction of gravity on the temperature distribution, flow behavior, and solidification morphology of the keyhole weld pool was investigated, which further revealed the initial unstable stage of the welding process. In the flat position, at this stage, the high-temperature area within the keyhole rear sidewall surface gradually accumulates close to the exit side of the weld pool. More molten metal flows to the keyhole exit side by gravity and shear forces, which causes a separation area on the keyhole rear side that is nearer to the exit side of the weld pool. This makes it harder to close the keyhole wall when it is in a flat position during the initial unstable stage. Furthermore, the temperature distribution and flow behavior of the keyhole rear side can be used as another factor to characterize the flow state of the weld pool in all positions and stages of welding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The α‐globin fusion gene between the HBA2 and HBAP1 genes becomes clinically important in thalassemia screening because this fusion gene can cause severe hemoglobin (Hb) H disease when combining with α0‐thalassemia (α0‐thal). Due to its uncommon rearrangement in the α gene cluster without dosage changes, this fusion gene is undetectable by common molecular testing approaches used for α‐thal diagnosis. Methods: In this study, we used the single‐molecule real‐time (SMRT) sequencing technique to detect this fusion gene in 23 carriers identified by next‐generation sequencing (NGS) among 16,504 screened individuals. Five primers for α and β thalassemia were utilized. Results: According to the NGS results, the 23 carriers include 14 pure heterozygotes, eight compound heterozygotes with common α‐thal alleles, and one homozygote. By using SMRT, the fusion mutant was successfully detected in all 23 carriers. Furthermore, SMRT corrected the diagnosis in two "pure" heterozygotes: one was compound heterozygote with anti‐3.7 triplication, and the other was homozygote. Conclusion: Our results indicate that SMRT is a superior method compared to NGS in detecting the α fusion gene, attributing to its efficient, accurate, and one‐step properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for heavy oil, core annular flow (CAF) is an economical method to transport heavy oil, and many researchers have explored the energy-saving aspects of the CAF method. This paper presents a review of CAF energy saving and factors affecting CAF energy saving. Among them, the energy saving of CAF mainly concerns the changes in pressure drop and drag reduction efficiency; the factors affecting the energy saving of CAF mainly concern the problem of stability, the issue of restarting the pipeline system, the impact of a nozzle, the impact of fouling on the flow in the pipe, and the problem of oil–water accumulation. The aim of this paper is to provide a reference for the practical application of CAF in heavy oil transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the primary active pharmacologic component in Cannabis satival., which is non‐psychoactive. CBD shows anti‐tumor, anti‐inflammatory, sedative and many other activities, thus demonstrating potential therapeutic utilities in neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, cancer and other diseases. There have been numerous pharmacokinetic studies of CBD, which indicate the main metabolic sites are 6‐ and 7‐position of monoterpene and alkyl chain of the olivetol. While only few studies are available for the metabolic sites of the benzene ring. In this paper, the aromatic hydrogen on the benzene ring was deuterated, and the antitumor activity, hERG potassium channel activity and liver microsome stability of 3′,5′‐d2‐cannabidiol (D2CBD) and CBD were compared. The results show that the antitumor activity and hERG potassium channel activity are slightly improved, whereas liver microsomes stability of D2CBD is not significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the traditional transportation of high-viscosity crude oil, water annular transportation has the advantages of low energy consumption and no change in crude oil composition. With the continuous development of marine heavy oil transportation, submarine oil pipelines are inevitably subjected to vibration and impact, affecting the annular flow in the pipeline. In this paper, the VOF model in Fluent software is used to simulate the stability of oil-water annular flow in a horizontal pipeline under different amplitudes and the interface characteristic parameters of annular flow. In addition, the influence of vibration on oil-water annular flow in the horizontal pipeline under different marine environments is studied. The results showed that the vibration parameters have an influence on the flow of oil-water annular flow in the horizontal pipeline. Under the condition of constant inlet velocity, the eccentricity degree of oil core is analyzed to reveal the law that the stability of annular flow decreases with the increase of amplitude. The relationship between the eccentricity of oil core and the vibrational parameters of pipes are explored in this paper. At the same time, the unit pressure drop under the condition of pipe vibration and its mechanism are studied. These results could provide references for parameters optimization of heavy oil-water annular flow transportation under vibration conditions. [Display omitted] • Oil-water annular flow under the impact of marine swell is numerically simulated. • Annular flow stability is described by pressure drop and flow characteristics. • Different vibration properties affect the stability of the oil-water annular flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Glioma is the most common primary malignancy of the adult central nervous system (CNS), with a poor prognosis and no effective prognostic signature. Since late 2019, the world has been affected by the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Research on SARS-CoV-2 is flourishing; however, its potential mechanistic association with glioma has rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential correlation of SARS-CoV-2-related genes with the occurrence, progression, prognosis, and immunotherapy of gliomas. Methods: SARS-CoV-2-related genes were obtained from the human protein atlas (HPA), while transcriptional data and clinicopathological data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases. Glioma samples were collected from surgeries with the knowledge of patients. Differentially expressed genes were then identified and screened, and seven SARS-CoV-2 related genes were generated by LASSO regression analysis and uni/multi-variate COX analysis. A prognostic SARS-CoV-2-related gene signature (SCRGS) was then constructed based on these seven genes and validated in the TCGA validation cohort and CGGA cohort. Next, a nomogram was established by combining critical clinicopathological data. The correlation between SCRGS and glioma related biological processes was clarified by Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In addition, immune infiltration and immune score, as well as immune checkpoint expression and immune escape, were further analyzed to assess the role of SCRGS in glioma-associated immune landscape and the responsiveness of immunotherapy. Finally, the reliability of SCRGS was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on glioma samples. Results: The prognostic SCRGS contained seven genes, REEP6, CEP112, LARP4B, CWC27, GOLGA2, ATP6AP1, and ERO1B. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to the median SARS-CoV-2 Index. Overall survival was significantly worse in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group. COX analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated excellent predictive power for SCRGS for glioma prognosis. In addition, GSEA, immune infiltration, and immune scores indicated that SCRGS could potentially predict the tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, and immune response in glioma patients. Conclusions: The SCRGS established here can effectively predict the prognosis of glioma patients and provide a potential direction for immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oriented graph is called singular or nonsingular according as its adjacency matrix is singular or nonsingular. In this note, by a new approach, we determine the singularity of oriented quasi-trees. The main results of Chen et al. ['Singularity of oriented graphs from several classes', Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 102 (1) (2020), 7–14] follow as corollaries. Furthermore, we give a necessary condition for an oriented bipartite graph to be nonsingular. By applying this condition, we characterise nonsingular oriented bipartite graphs $B_{m,n}$ when $\min \{m,n\}\leq 3$. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory immune-mediated disease that can lead to synovitis, cartilage destruction, and even joint damage. Dexamethasone (DEX) is a commonly used agent for RA therapy on inflammation manage. However, the traditional administering DEX is hampered by low efficiency and obvious adverse effects. Therefore, in order to efficiently deliver DEX to RA inflamed joints and overcome existing deficiencies, we developed transdermal formation dextran sulfate (DS) modified DEX-loaded flexible liposome hydrogel (DS-FLs/DEX hydrogel), validated their transdermal efficiency, evaluated its ability to target activated macrophages, and its anti-inflammatory effect. The DS-FLs/DEX exhibited excellent biocompatibility, sustainable drug release, and high uptake by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. Furthermore, the DS-FLs/DEX hydrogel showed desired skin permeation as compared with regular liposome hydrogel (DS-RLs/DEX hydrogel) due to its good deformability. In vivo, when used the AIA rats as RA model, the DS-FLs/DEX hydrogel can effectively penetrate and accumulate in inflamed joints, significantly improve joint swelling in RA rats, and reduce the destructive effect of RA on bone. Importantly, the expression of inflammatory cytokines in joints was inhibited and the system toxicity did not activate under DS-FLs/DEX hydrogel treatment. Overall, these data revealed that the dextran sulfate (DS) modified DEX-loaded flexible liposome hydrogel (DS-FLs/DEX hydrogel) can prove to be an excellent drug delivery vehicle against RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimization approach for multiport pixel antenna design using ${N}$ -port characteristic mode analysis (CMA) and sequential feeding port selection is proposed. CMA is utilized to characterize the maximum number of independent or orthogonal resonant modes that can be formed in the limited space constrained by the size of the pixel antenna. Once the maximum number of orthogonal resonance modes is found sequential feeding port selection is proposed to find the optimum feed positions to independently excite each of the orthogonal resonance modes. The resulting design does not need additional complex feeding networks or impedance matching circuits, making the physical implementation of the design straightforward, compact and practical. Two examples are provided to verify the performance of the proposed approach, including a 3-port pixel antenna and a 4-port pixel antenna operating at 2.4 GHz. The performance of the optimized antennas is very good, and verifies the usefulness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microfluidic chip is introduced for generating double emulsion droplets, consisting of a coaxial focusing center structure combined with a flow-focusing structure. The volume of fluid method (VOF) was adopted to numerically simulate and validate the formation of double emulsion droplets in the device. The impact of microfluidics on the dimensions and molding position of double emulsion droplets was examined under varying flow parameters and physical properties. Results demonstrate that the impact of the alteration in the flow rate of the middle phase is pivotal in the droplet generation process in comparison to the outer phase. An increase in the flow rate of the middle phase results in a notable enlargement of the double emulsion droplets. An increase in viscosity affects the forming regime, causing a transition in the droplet regime. Furthermore, interfacial tension exerts a notable impact on the positioning of droplet formation. The microfluidic device outlined in this paper effectively generates double emulsion droplets characterized by high monodispersity and excellent stability, which serves as a new reference for the practical generation of double emulsion droplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the internal flow dynamics of radial rotating oscillating heat pipes (RaRo-OHPs) to assess their potential applications in rotations. It examines influences of heat flux and centrifugal acceleration on thermal conditions and internal flow in RaRo-OHPs. Results show that both Bo and Fr rise significantly with increased centrifugal acceleration and heat flux, emphasizing radial rotation's impact on internal flow. With increment of heat flux and centrifugal acceleration, flow pattern analysis reveals shifts from slug/annular flow to churn flow/separation of vapor-liquid phases; motion modes progress from pendulum oscillation to circulation, then oscillation or single/double-side boiling. Visualizations underscore the importance of maintaining vapor slugs and liquid plugs for effective circulation flow and heat transfer. It is noted that under radial rotation, slug flow and the circulation of chains of vapor slugs and liquid plugs were still observed, achieving Bo of 8.26 for acetone and 5.10 for water as the working fluid. Compared with the static state, radial rotation can promote the internal flow, the velocity increases by 228% and 185% for RaRo-OHPs filled with acetone and water, respectively. The study emphasizes the capillary effect's role in enhancing internal flow under radial rotations, crucial for improving thermal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional stress is a significant environmental risk factor for various mental health disabilities, such as anxiety. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been demonstrated to have pronounced anxiolytic effects. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these effects and their contribution to behavioral deficits remain poorly understood. Here, we addressed these issues using a classical mouse anxiety model induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS).Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated with the open field test and elevated plus maze. Neuronal activation in various brain regions was marked using c-Fos, followed by calculations of interregional correlation to characterize a network that became functionally active following EA at the HT7 acupoint (EA-HT7). We selected the hub regions and further investigated their functions and connections in regulating anxiety-like behaviors by using a combination of chemogenetic manipulations and behavioral testing. CRS exposure induced anxiety-like behaviors. Interestingly, EA-HT7 mitigated these behavioral abnormalities. The c-Fos expression in 30 brain areas revealed a vital brain network for acupuncture responsiveness in naïve mice. Neural activity in the NAcSh (nucleus accumbens shell), BNST (bed nucleus of the stria terminalis), VMH (Ventromedial Hypothalamus), ARC (arcuate nucleus), dDG (dorsal dentate gyrus), and VTA (ventral tegmental area) was significantly altered following acupuncture. Notably, both c-Fos immunostaining and brain functional connectivity analysis revealed the significant activation of VTA following EA-HT7. Interestingly, blocking the VTA eliminated the anxiolytic effects of EA-HT7, whereas chemogenetic activation of the VTA replicated the therapeutic effects of EA-HT7. EA-HT7 has demonstrated benefits in treating anxiety and enhances brain functional connectivity. The VTA is functionally associated with the anxiolytic effects of EA-HT7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, representing approximately 80.8% of malignant tumors. Necroptosis triggers and enhances antitumor immunity and is expected to be a new target for tumor immunotherapy. The effectiveness of necroptosis-related lncRNAs as potential therapeutic targets for glioma has not been elucidated. Methods. We acquired RNA-seq data sets from LGG and GBM samples, and the corresponding clinical characteristic information is from TCGA. Normal brain tissue data is from GTEX. Based on TCGA and GTEx, we used univariate Cox regression to sort out survival-related lncRNAs. Lasso regression models were then built. Then, we performed a separate Kaplan-Meier analysis of the lncRNAs used for modeling. We validated different risk groups via OS, DFS, enrichment analysis, comprehensive immune analysis, and drug sensitivity. Results. We constructed a 12 prognostic lncRNAs model after bioinformatic analysis. Subsequently, the risk score of every glioma patient was calculated based on correlation coefficients and expression levels, and the patients were split into low- and high-risk groups according to the median value of the risk score. A nomogram was established for every glioma patient to predict prognosis. Besides, we found significant differences in OS, DFS, immune infiltration and checkpoints, and immune therapy between different risk subgroups. Conclusion. Predictive models of 12 necroptosis-related lncRNAs can facilitate the assessment of the prognosis and molecular characteristics of glioma patients and improve treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the social public resource digital sharing system (SPRDSS) has been accelerated with the evolution of digital information and communication technologies (ICTs). This paper analyzes the dissipative structure features and formation process of SPRDSS in China. Combined with the Brusselator model and its transformation, this paper empirically analyzes the dissipative structure of SPRDSS using panel data collected from 30 Chinese provinces (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) from 2015 to 2019. The results show that the SPRDSS in China has pre-conditions to form a dissipative structure. At present, the SPRDSSs in most Chinese provinces have not yet formed the dissipative structure, but they are gradually evolving into it. The global orderliness of the sharing system is greater in eastern China than in central China and greater in central China than in western China. The potential for improving global orderliness is greater in western China than in central China and is greater in central China than in eastern China. Therefore, proper policies and measures should be adopted to accelerate the construction of SPRDSS based on the evolution of dissipative structure and to promote the sustainable development of the digital sharing economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common form of malignant tumor and is characterized by high rates of proliferation and metastases. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a form of noncoding and closed loop RNA molecules and play vital roles in the progression of various types of cancer in humans. Here, we used circRNA microarray sequencing technology to analyze the different circRNAs between CRC tissues and normal tissues and explore the role of circIFT80 in progression of colorectal cancer. In this present study, we found that circIFT80 was abnormally overexpression in colorectal cancer tissues and tumor cells. While knockout circIFT80 in HT29 cell or SW480 cells, the proliferation, and migration of the cells were inhibited, the cell cycle was arrested in G2/M phase, and the cell apoptosis was increased. And then, we found circIFT80-positive correlation with CTNNB1 (β-catenin) by sponging miR-142, miR-568, and miR-634 upregulated the gene expression. These miRNAs which targeted β-catenin mRNA were confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter system and RNA-pulldown. In addition, xenograft tumor experiments showed that circIFT80 accelerated the tumorigenesis of CRC in vivo. In conclusion, our work reveals the impacts of circIFT80 as ceRNA in the progression of CRC, by which sponging miR-142, miR-568, and miR-634 enhanced the expression levels of β-catenin and activation Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Collectively, our data indicate that circIFT80 serves as an oncogene in CRC and represents a novel candidate for diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate whether social isolation and loneliness mediates the relationship between hearing loss and depression symptoms in older adults in China.Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 3769 participants (aged≥60 years) in Shandong province of China. Hearing loss was assessed using Pure-Tone Audiometry test, depression symptoms using 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, loneliness through UCLA Loneliness Scale and social isolation using Lubben Social Network Scale. Regression and bootstrap analyses were performed to test both direct associations of hearing loss and depression symptoms, and whether the mediating role of social isolation and loneliness.Results: Overall, 44% of older adults had hearing loss, which was generally mild (30%) rather than moderate (10%), severe (3%) or profound (0.6%). Increasing levels of hearing loss was associated with increasing levels of social isolation and depressions. Hearing loss was also associated with loneliness, but here a threshold effect was apparent and no trend for increasing loneliness with increasing hearing loss. Models that included social isolation and loneliness showed an amelioration in the association of hearing loss and depression, although it remained significant at all levels of hearing loss. Overall, 8% of the total effect of hearing loss on depression symptoms was explained by the mediated effect through social isolation and 42% by loneliness.Conclusions: Psychosocial factors such as social isolation and loneliness might explain the association between hearing loss and depression. Interventions that address older adults' social isolation and loneliness may ameliorate depression in older adults with hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel bypass coupling variable polarity plasma arc was proposed to achieve the accurate adjusting of heat and mass transfer in the welding and additive manufacturing of aluminum alloy. However, the physical characteristics and decoupled transfer behavior remain unclear, restricting its application and development. A three-dimensional model of the bypass coupling variable polarity plasma arc was built based on Kirchhoff's law, the main arc and the bypass arc are coupled by an electromagnetic field. The model of current attachment on the tungsten electrode surface is included for simulating different heating processes of the EP and EN phases in the coupling arc. The distribution of temperature field, flow field, and current density of the bypass coupling variable polarity plasma arc was studied by the three-dimensional numerical model. The heat input on the base metal under different current conditions is quantified. To verify the model, the arc voltages are compared and the results in simulation and experiment agree with each other well. The results show that the radius of the bypass coupling arc with or without bypass current action on the base metal is different, and the flow vector of the bypass coupling arc plasma with bypass current is larger than the arc without bypass current. By comparing the heat transfer on the electrodes' boundary under different current conditions, it is found that increasing the bypass current results in the rise in heat input on the base metal. Therefore, it is concluded that using bypass current is unable to completely decouple the wire melting and the heat input of the base metal. The decoupled degree of heat transfer is one of the important factors for accurate control in the manufacturing process with this coupling arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are chronic neurological disorders associated with cognitive or motor dysfunction. As a common spice, Zingiber officinale Roscoe has been used as a medicine to treat a variety of NDDs. However, at the molecular level, the mechanisms of Z. officinale in treating of NDDs have not been deeply investigated. In this study, network pharmacology method, molecular docking, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were used to predict the mechanisms of Z. officinale in the treatment of NDDs. After a series of biological information analyses, five core targets were obtained, including heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), catechol‐O‐methyl‐transferase (COMT), and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). Compounds 75, 68, 46, 67, 69, 49, 66, 50, 34, and 64 were identified as the main components of Z. officinale in the treatment of NDDs. The crucial pathways mainly include neuroactive ligand–receptor signaling pathways, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathways, dopamine synaptic signaling pathways, and so on. Besides, in vitro experiments by AChE inhibitory activities assay and neuroprotective activities against H2O2‐induced injury in human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells validated the reliability of the results of network analysis. Practical applications: Zingiber officinale Roscoe is widely used as a traditional spice and herbal medicine. It contains a number of active ingredients, which have shown activities on anti‐neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). In this paper, the potential mechanism of Z. officinale in the treatment of NDDs is explored through network pharmacology, and it was verified by in vitro experiments. The mechanism was not only clarified at the system level but also proved to be effective at the biological level. The results can be used as a reference for Z. officinale in the treating of NDDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the problem of spatial signal design for multipath-assisted mmWave positioning under limited prior knowledge on the user’s location and clock bias. We propose an optimal robust design and, based on the low-dimensional precoder structure under perfect prior knowledge, a codebook-based heuristic design with optimized beam power allocation. Through numerical results, we characterize different position-error-bound (PEB) regimes with respect to clock bias uncertainty and show that the proposed low-complexity codebook-based designs outperform the conventional directional beam codebook and achieve near-optimal PEB performance for both analog and digital architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, enlightened by the asymptotic expansion methodology developed by Li [(2013). Maximum-likelihood estimation for diffusion processes via closed-form density expansions. Annals of Statistics 41: 1350–1380] and Li and Chen [(2016). Estimating jump-diffusions using closed-form likelihood expansions. Journal of Econometrics 195(1): 51–70], we propose a Taylor-type approximation for the transition densities of the stochastic differential equations (SDEs) driven by the gamma processes, a special type of Lévy processes. After representing the transition density as a conditional expectation of Dirac delta function acting on the solution of the related SDE, the key technical method for calculating the expectation of multiple stochastic integrals conditional on the gamma process is presented. To numerically test the efficiency of our method, we examine the pure jump Ornstein–Uhlenbeck model and its extensions to two jump-diffusion models. For each model, the maximum relative error between our approximated transition density and the benchmark density obtained by the inverse Fourier transform of the characteristic function is sufficiently small, which shows the efficiency of our approximated method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adenosine A2A receptor subtype is recognized as a non-dopaminergic pharmacological target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, notably Parkinson's disease (PD). The selective A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline is approved in the US and Japan as an adjunctive treatment to levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitors in adults with PD experiencing OFF episodes or a wearing-off phenomenon; however, the full potential of this drug class remains to be explored. In this article, we review the pharmacology of adenosine A2A receptor antagonists from the perspective of the treatment of both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD and their potential for disease modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella screening is essential to avoid food poisoning. A simple, fast and sensitive colorimetric biosensor was elaborately developed for Salmonella detection on a microfluidic chip through limiting air chambers for precise air control, switching rotary valves for accurate fluid selection, a convergence-and-divergence passive micromixer and an extrusion-and-suction active micromixer for efficient fluid mixing, and immune gold@platinum palladium nanocatalysts for effective signal amplification. The mixture of bacteria, immune magnetic nanobeads and nanocatalysts was first rapidly mixed to form nanobead-bacteria-nanocatalyst conjugates and magnetically separated for enrichment. After washing with water, the conjugates were used to catalyze colorless substrate and blue product was finally analyzed using ImageJ for quantifying bacterial concentration. The finger-actuated microfluidic chip enabled designated control of designated fluids in designated places towards designated directions by simple press-release operations on designated air chambers without any external power. Under optimal conditions, this sensor could detect Salmonella at 45 CFU/mL in 25 min. • New finger-actuated valves and mixers were designed for fluidic selection and mixing. • Gold@platinum palladium nanocatalysts were synthesized to amplify biological signal. • Whole bacterial detection procedure was simply performed on single microfluidic chip. • This biosensor was able to detect Salmonella as low as 45 CFU/mL in 25 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposing origami/kirigami structures modeling method by affine transformation. • Providing physical interpretation and quantitative research of dynamic behaviors. • Clarifying the coupling effects of nonlinear elastic creases on flexible surfaces. • Conducting experiments on kirigami to show the crease design and effectiveness. A generalized multi-body dynamical modeling method of Origami/Kirigami structures considering the elastic–flexible coupling of surfaces and nonlinear creases is proposed. For different structures with complex spatial configuration and constraints, an Affine Transformation (AT) technique based on Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation (ANCF) is proposed to make the modeling more convenient and efficient. The surfaces are discretized by triangle reduced elements, and the constitutive relations of creases are described by nonlinear state-dependent torque constraints. The proof of the topological invariance of configurations is also given. The simulation of the folding capacity and dynamic behaviors on two Origami structures, Origami solar array mechanism, and enclosed Yoshimura Origami, are given, which verifies the effectiveness of the modeling method. Additionally, the quantitative dynamic behaviors contributes to the design principle of a Kirigami structure for multi-stability. Comparisons between theoretical results from modeling and experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the modeling method and crease design. The AT-ANCF lays a theoretical foundation for dynamic prediction and design for large deformation Origami/ Kirigami structures, which has significant potential applications in dynamic properties design in the fields of aerospace, robotic etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the reliability of aluminum alloy welding quality, a novel Pulsed Plasma Gas Variable Polarity Plasma Arc Welding (PPG-VPPAW) system is proposed. This system enables independent control and rapid adjustment of the plasma gas, allowing for flexible modulation of arc pressure output under constant thermal conditions, thereby reducing porosity and refining grain structure. The research analyzed the impact of parameters of different plasma gas on arc characteristics, welding porosity, and welding microstructure. The results reveal that the periodic changes in pulsed plasma gas induce corresponding variations in arc temperature, arc shape, arc pressure, arc voltage, and the morphology of the weld pool keyhole. The magnitude of the difference between the base value and peak value of pulsed plasma gas determines the extent of arc pressure fluctuations and the behavior of the backside keyhole. The maximum oscillation amplitude of the backside keyhole can reach up to 4.5 mm². Additionally, the oscillation of pulsed plasma gas within the molten pool has been demonstrated to effectively reduce weld porosity and refine grain size. Under this process, the grain size of the weld metal can be reduced by up to approximately 25%. Current work provides an important direction for fabricating highly reliable aluminum alloy weldments. [Display omitted] • The welding process allows for flexible adjustment of arc pressure under stable thermal conditions. • The periodic changes in pulsed plasma gas induce corresponding variations in arc temperature, arc shape, arc pressure, arc voltage, and the morphology of the weld pool keyhole. • The magnitude of the difference between the base value and peak value of pulsed plasma gas determines the extent of arc pressure fluctuations and the behavior of the backside keyhole. • The oscillation of pulsed plasma gas within the weld pool can effectively reduce welding porosity and refine grain size, with a potential reduction of up to approximately 25% in the grain size of the weld metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Good precision, accuracy and linear correlation coefficient. • Ability to quantify chondroitin sulfate of various molecular weights and structures. • Small difference relative to enzymatic HPLC results in analyzing representative CS samples. • A simple, cheap and reliable quantification method. A simple and reliable HPLC method was developed for quantification of chondroitin sulfate (CS). The procedure is based on precolumn hydrolysis of CS to liberate galactosamine and subsequent derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl- N -hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate. Hydrolysis and derivatization conditions were optimized. A linear correlation coefficient of 0.9999 was calculated within the range of 10–1500 μg/mL from the standard curve. The method produces good precision and good accuracy (100.75 % recovery). An advantage over other common methods is its ability to quantify CS of all molecular weights and structures, as evidenced by the determination of CS fractions with narrow molecular weight distributions obtained through depolymerization by different methods, while enzymatic HPLC was proven to be infeasible. Extraction recoveries of CS from monosaccharide mixed samples were > 93 %. The reliability was also validated by a small difference (−1.95 % to 4.12 %) relative to enzymatic HPLC results in analysing representative CS samples of different animal origins and suppliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A unified numerical model of flexible constrained arc is established. • The annular flexible constrained gas flow can increase arc energy density. • The gas flow constrained arc causes eddy at small arc lengths, easily leading to electrode contamination. • The gas flow constrained arc can effectively inhibit metal vapor backflow. Energy dispersion and easy instability associated with arcs, the traditional metal processing heat source, restrict its development and application in the modern high-precision welding and additive manufacturing. This work aims to study the characteristics of a novel arc under circumferential gas constraint effect which can improve the arc stability and processing accuracy. A magnetohydrodynamics model was established to calculate the arc physics and heat transfer, considering the electron emission characteristics of tungsten and the effect of metal vapor. It indicates that the annular flexible constrained gas flow can significantly increase the physical characteristics such as arc temperature, plasma flow velocity and current density compared with traditional free arc which is named GTA. The arc heat generation increasement of the novel arc makes the heat transfer from arc to base metal higher than that of GTA. The additional annular gas flow inhibits the diffusion of metal vapor, stabilizing the arc and protecting the tungsten electrode from contamination. However, as the arc length decreases, eddy of arc plasma flow appears inside the arc, which can cause metal vapor to contaminate the tungsten. It's found that this novel gas flow constrained arc needs to be applied with a small current when welding with small arc length to avoid the eddy. Finally, the accuracy of the calculation model is verified by experimental detection of arc temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil–water annular flow is an efficient method of heavy oil transportation for energy-saving. To deeply study the influencing factors of the energy savings of oil–water annular flow, this paper compares the interface fluctuation and energy-saving situation of oil–water annular flow under different pipe structures (such as straight pipe, sudden-contraction pipe, and elbow pipe), flow parameters, and fluid properties. In the straight pipe, the flow parameters can impact the oil–water annular flow pattern and the energy savings, and the interface fluctuation is consistent with the energy savings. The stable oil–water core annular flow has slight interface fluctuation and significant energy savings. At the same time, the influences of pipe structure and fluid properties on energy saving are also analyzed. In the sudden-contraction pipe, the oil–water interface fluctuates, largely due to the sharp changes in flow cross-section, which leads to reduced energy savings. In the elbow, the oil–water interface fluctuates greatly due to the influence of centrifugal force caused by flow direction variation, and also leads to a decline in energy savings. The effects of oil property or annulus liquid property on the interface fluctuates, and the energy savings are analyzed; reducing surface tension is an effective measure to provide an energy-saving effect. These results can provide a reference for the design of heavy-oil-transportation pipelines, the analysis of interface fluctuation, and the energy-saving evaluation of oil–water annular flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plenoptic 2.0 videos that are captured by focused plenoptic cameras outperform the traditional plenoptic videos with higher spatial resolution of rendered subaperture images and more effective light field sampling. However, its distinct imaging principle causes different pixel intensity distribution and complex macropixel structures, which results in ineffectiveness in coding them using the existing plenoptic video compression methods. Thus, a novel compression method is proposed in this paper to dramatically improve the intra prediction efficiency for multi-focus plenoptic 2.0 video coding. It consists of two new intra prediction modes: imaging-principle-guided static prediction (ISP) and imaging-principle-guided zoomed prediction (IZP). In ISP, the prediction candidates spatially positioned by plenoptic 2.0 imaging principle are weighted by minimizing boundary error to generate the predicted samples. In IZP, the spatial positions and scales of the prediction candidates vary according to the focusing status and the focal length of the microlens that generates the pixels in the prediction candidates. The combination of two modes generalizes plenoptic 2.0 video coding for multi-focus plenoptic cameras. The proposed approach outperforms high efficiency video coding (HEVC) standard by an average of 15.37% bitrate reduction under All Intra configuration. It also outperforms other state-of-the-art methods with obvious compression efficiency improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia and the overexpression of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are conducive to cancer cell proliferation, which greatly hinders cancer treatment. Here, we design a novel TME-responsive therapeutic nanoplatform Co/ZIF-8/ICG/Pt (CZIP) to achieve chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this nanoplatform, under near-infrared light (NIR) irradiation, the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) can generate singlet oxygen (1O2) for cancer cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, overexpressed H2O2 in the TME could be catalyzed to generate O2 by the loaded Pt to relieve tumor hypoxia and promote the PDT-induced 1O2 production. In addition, the doped Co2+ could react with H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) for CDT. The multifunctional nanoplatform CZIP showed high biosafety and a good antitumor effect, which would provide a new route for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]